Origin
Blaine, MN
Late night in Blaine on Monday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blaine, MN to Lakefield, MN
Drive Time
3h 36m
Distance
173.6 mi
279 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 24m
★
6 AM
3h 37m
8 AM
4h 2m
10 AM
3h 46m
12 PM
3h 43m
3 PM
3h 47m
5 PM
4h 1m
8 PM
3h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blaine, MN
Tom Fisk
Lakefield, MN
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Blaine, MN to Lakefield, MN covers 173.6 miles and takes about 3h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Central Avenue Northeast, I 694 West, MN 100 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.83 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
86.8 miles from Blaine, MN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 36m drive with frequent turns across 173.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Central Avenue Northeast is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Blaine, MN to Lakefield, MN is easy. At 3h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Blaine, MN to Lakefield, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Avenue Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 694 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 100 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 494 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 169 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MN 41 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CR 78 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road 78 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Central Avenue Northeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blaine, MN and Lakefield, MN.
1
Start on Central Avenue Northeast
26 ft
·
9 sec
·
Central Avenue Northeast
2
Continue on Central Avenue Northeast
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Central Avenue Northeast
3
Continue on Central Avenue Northeast
299 ft
·
5 sec
·
Central Avenue Northeast
4
Take the exit slight right toward I 694 West
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 694 West
5
Merge slight left
1.8 mi
·
2 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward MN 100
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
MN 100
7
Continue straight
15 mi
·
19 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 494 West, MN 5 West
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 494 West, MN 5 West
9
Merge slight left
1.5 mi
·
1 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 169 South, US 169 North
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 169 South, US 169 North
11
Keep slight left to continue on US 169 South
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 169 South
12
Merge slight left
13 mi
·
15 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward MN 41, CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
MN 41, CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
14
Keep slight left to continue on CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
226 ft
·
7 sec
·
CR 78: Chestnut Boulevard
15
Continue on County Road 78
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
County Road 78
16
Turn right onto Louisville Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Louisville Road
17
Turn right onto 147th Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
147th Street
18
Turn left onto Red Rock Drive
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Red Rock Drive
19
Take the ramp straight toward US 169 South
262 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 169 South
20
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
12 min
21
Continue straight
3.8 mi
·
4 min
22
Continue straight
24 mi
·
29 min
23
Continue straight
14 mi
·
18 min
24
Continue straight
62 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
25
Continue on 2nd Avenue North
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Avenue North
26
Continue on State Highway 60
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
State Highway 60
27
Continue on MN 60 W
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
MN 60 W
28
Turn left onto 450th Ave; State Highway 86
9.8 mi
·
12 min
·
450th Ave; State Highway 86
29
Continue on North Highway 86
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Highway 86
30
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue North
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
2nd Avenue North
31
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 86.8 miles from Blaine, MN, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.8 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakefield, MN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blaine, MN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Blaine, MN
This is one driving day of about 173.6 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Blaine, MN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.8 mi from Blaine, MN · 1h 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.8 miles from Blaine, MN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lakefield, MN
The final approach into Lakefield, MN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Lakefield, MN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.83 one way
$49.66 round trip
$3.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.92 | $26.80 | $53.60 |
| premium | $4.39 | $30.02 | $60.04 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $38.57 | $77.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.1 | 0 | $18.23 | $8.33 |
| Efficient EV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.19 | $6.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.4 | 0 | $24.30 | $11.11 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Lakefield, MN
Late night in Lakefield on Monday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
20 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Blaine, MN to Lakefield, MN covers 173.6 miles and takes about 3h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Central Avenue Northeast, I 694 West, MN 100. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.8 miles from Blaine, MN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.83 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Blaine, MN to Lakefield, MN is easy. At 3h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Blaine, MN to Lakefield, MN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Blaine, MN to Lakefield, MN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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